Bladder cancer is the most expensive cancer to treat with a high recurrence rate of 50 to 80 percent. Treatment options for bladder cancer include: surgery, chemotherapy, radiation and immunotherapy; all have possible side effects.
Significance
Chemotherapy is a treatment in which drugs are used to destroy cancer cells.Orally and intravenously are ways to administer chemotherapy drugs into the body; however in early bladder cancer patients, drugs may be infused into the bladder through the urethra (called intravesical chemotherapy).
Treatment
Two chemotherapy drugs, cyclophosphamide and ifosfamide, are associated with toxic side effects to the bladder leading to a condition called cystitis. Cystitis and its more severe form Hemorrhagic Cystitis are the two main types of bladder problems related to chemotherapy.
Effects
Cystitis, occurring in up to 10 percent of patients receiving chronic low dose cyclophosphamide, is detected as urinary burning or bleeding after several cycles of chemotherapy.It is also an irritation of the lining of the bladder wall. Frequent voiding and vigorous hydration are two ways to prevent cystitis.
Warning
Hemorrhagic cystitis is the combination of bladder pain and irritable bladder systems prior to developing hematuria. Hematuria is blood in the urine.Patients having developed hemorrhagic cystitis are faced with a dangerous condition that can lead to significant bleeding or life-threatening infection.
Fact
Symptoms of Hemorrhagic cystitis includes hematuria, bladder infection, urinary frequency and more.
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